Incat Crowther of Newport, New South Wales, has been selected to design a 24 m catamaran dinner cruise boat for the Sydney Harbor operator, VC Cruises.

The vessel will be a 24.0m low speed catamaran capable of carrying 400 passengers at a service speed of 10 knots fully loaded.

The main deck cabin will contain loose seating for approx 176 passengers. It will be configurable to suit the desired function. The main cabin will also incorporate a fully stocked bar, food servery, DJ booth and dance floor plus a removable raised stage.

A fully equipped galley and cool room has been arranged in the port hull capable of providing food service for the full compliment of 400 passengers.

The mid deck cabin will seat 96 passengers and will have its own bar, servery, DJ and dance floor facilities enabling separate groups to be on the same cruise. Food access to this cabin will be provided via a dumb waiter.

Access between the decks was carefully arranged to enable the two groups to be kept separate while still providing access to the vessels main viewing decks. Toilets are located on each deck.

A small self enclosed wheelhouse is positioned at the forward end of the mid deck.

Powered by twin Caterpillar C7's each producing 275 hp and driving fixed pitch propellers, the vessel will have a service speed of 10 knots at full load. This speed will allow the vessel to do a full loop of Darling Harbor to Watsons Bay and back in 1.5 hours.

The vessel is to be built by Brisbane based Aluminium Boats Australia and is expected to be in service in the latter part of this year.

VC Cruises, formerly known as Pacific Pearl Cruises, operate two lunch time cruises daily for overseas tour groups and then provide nightly dinner cruises and charters on the tradition charter cruise route around Sydney Harbor.